Fossil Butte National Monument

Explore one of the world’s largest deposits of freshwater fish fossils at Fossil Butte National Monument.

The area’s calm water, lack of scavengers and fine sediment all worked together to create the perfect conditions for preserving these prehistoric fossils. Today, Fossil Butte National Monument protects Fossil Lake and portions of the Green River Lake ecosystem, rich with fish, alligator, bat, turtle, small horse, insect and plant fossils. During the summer, you can join the Fossil Butte Quarry Program and help search for fossils, which Fossil Butte collects for their scientific research. Be sure to visit Fossil Butte’s visitor center with over 300 fossils on display. Visitors can also take a ride along the site’s scenic drive, stop for lunch at a designated picnic area, take a hike around the area or attend a ranger program.